Electric-current measuring and indicating means



Dec. I0', 1929. M. .L HUGGYINS ELECTRIC CURRENT MEASURINGAND INDI-CATING MEANS Filed Feb. 21, 1924 l Merian Il/M yfS @5137175 SHOM/WW Patented Dec. 10, 19.29

UNITI-:D 'STA-*112sl Parana 'cavalca -ismnroiv a'. Encours, or UPPER SADDLE RIVER, New JERSEY, AssreNoa 'ro nu'ro-l imam COMPANY, mc., orlvnw vonk, N. Y., A coaroaatrron oF DELAWARE ELECTRIC-CURRENT MEASURING .AND INDGATXNG M-EANS Application filed. February 21, 1524. Serial No. 694,223.

This invention relates to electric indicating means, and it is the primary object of the invention to provide an improved indicating instrument operable by variations in the electromotive force and strength of the current iow ,to indicate either the condition of a source of electric current supply or the quantity of liquid ina tank, and particularly adapted for use in motor vehicles to be mounted upon the dash or instrument board to indicate the condition of a batttey or current supply of the electrical System of the vehicle, or the quantityl of gasolene in the gasolene tank,and.to provide an instrument for this purpose which is novel, simple and compact in structure and eiicient in use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in connection with instruments of thisl character an electric lamp which is adapted to be connected in circuit with the instrument to illuminate Lthe instrument when a reading is to be made from the instrument, and which may also serve as a dash light for a motor vehicle.

Another object of the invention relates to the provision of a thermo switch connected thermal condition of an apparatus, such as the mot-ive means or gasolene engine of a.l

vehicle, the thermo switch being actuated by the heat of the cooling medium for said enne. v

A still lfurther object of the invention relates to 'an improved resistance device to be connected in circuit with the indicating means and operative to actuate said indicating means to indicate the quantity of liquid in a tank, and which is particularly adapted for use in connection with the gasolene storage tank of a motor vehicle to indicate. thequantity Vof gasolene therein; Other objects and advantages Iwill hereinafter appear.

In the drawing-accompanying and forming apart of this specification I have shown van embodiment ot my invention in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved .electrical connections-of the instrument with the source of current supply, a thermosw-itch arranged to be effected by the cooling medium for a gasolene engine to indicate the thermal condition of the engine, and with a resistance device to indicate the quantity of liquid in a tank, said resistance device being shown 1n longitudinal section and'arranged in -a liquid carrying tank.

. Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of a portion of the arrangement of the circuit closing means to connect the source of current supply and the resistanceV device in circuit With the-indicating means, and to connect a lamp in the circuits of said indicating means with the current supply and the resistance device to illuminate the indicating means. l

Figure 5 is a detail .view in side elevation of an indicator forming a part of the indicating means to show the mounting thereof and the relation of the indicator toits magnetic influencing means.

Figure 6 is a sectional detail view to i1-` lustrate the means for connecting the lamp in circuit with the source 'of current supply and a resistance device when they are connected in circuit with the indicating means.

Figure is a perspective view of a support for the indicator and its magnetic influencing means; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the indicator to show the pivotal support of the same and the mountmg of a magnetizable element or polarized vane associated therewith and through which the indicator is iniiuenced and moved by the 'magnetic means.- Y

Similar characters of reference designate vlike parts throughout the different views of the drawing.

While I have shown my improved indicating means and will describe the same in connection with the electrical system of a motor vehicle and as particularly applicable to indicate the condition of a source ot' current supply ot' said-system, the thermal condition of the power plant of the vehicle and the quantity of gasolene in a gasolene tank, and 1 laterally extending annular flange 9 at theV rim of the opening, and the opening being closed by a disk or plate l0 secured to the casing flange Vby screws 11 passing through perforations in the closure disk and threaded into the flange 9. The closure plate has an outwardly bulged portion 12 arranged in the arc of a circle having an opening or window 13 closed by a transparent material, such as glass or Celluloid, and having mounted therein a dial 14 to be viewed through the window. The casing is mounted by means of the llange 9 upon a support, such as the dash or instrumentboard of a motor vehicle when used in connection with the electrical system of Va vehicle.

An indicatorror pointer 15 is fixed adjacent one end to a pivot pin 16 whereby it is pivotally supported in a bracket or frame 17 of non-magnetic material, such as brass, secured to the back of the casing, the end of the pointer being arranged as a counterweight to counter-balance the same. The pointer has associated therewith a magnetic element in the form of a polarized vane 18 fixed to the pointer. or its supporting pivot.

. The opposite end of the pointer extends through a slot 19 in the dial and relative to which dial it is movable and has the extremity bent laterally to lie Vcontiguous to the face ofthe dial. .The pointer is normally moved to and maintained in position adjacent the lower'end of the dial slot, as shown in Figure 5, by the directive magnetic force of a permanent magnet 20 in'the form of a bar attached at opposite ends to ears 21 of thel bracket 17 and in the magnetic field or flux of which magnet the polarized vane 18 is arranged to serve as an armature to said magnet. The pointer is moved relative to the dial to indicate the condition of a source of current supply or of the current liow therefrom by a.l magnetic force generated by said current ilowin the magnetic field or flux of which the olarized element 18 is also located, said eld eing adapted to counteract and move 'the pointer against the permanentdirective force ofthe magnet 20. y The means for generating this counteracting magnetic force comprises as a: spool for the coil, the pointer or indicator 15 passing through and having movement in said spool and coil. One terminal ot' the coil is connected by a conductor 2l with a contact terminal 25 which is in the nature of a binding post carried by and insulated'from y the casing C. The binding post- 25 is connected to a source of current supply, such as a battery, shown in a conventional form atB, the condition of which is to be ascertained and indicated by the indicating means, said battery being grounded, as at 27, when used in connection with a motor vehicle grounded in the vehicle frame. The other terminal ot' the coil may also be grounded, as in the vehicle frame, and thereby connected in circuit with the battery, but in order to conserve current the coilis connected in open circuit with the source of current supplyand means are provided to connect the same in circuit therewith at will. For this purpose the other terminal of the coil is connected by a conductor 28 within the casing to a ,contact terminal 29, and the circuit is completed by a circuit closer inthe form of a `resilient; member 30 secured at one end to the casing, as at 31, and whereby said contact maker is grounded, the free end lying adjaccnt'to the contact terminal 29 and -1 moved into contact with said terminal 29 by l a push button 32 operable from the exterior of the casing, said buttonV Abeing Vslidably pull or move the same out ofthe field ofy the permanent magnet 20 and move the same upward in the dial slot the extent of this movement depending upon the electromoier.

tive force of the current source and the Y magnetic vfield generated b dial isarranged at the left and side of the dial slot with the indicia -toov low adjacent therlower end of the slot, and water recharge centrally betweenv the ends, and also with the indices 2, 4 and' 6,.this latter indicating the'voltage of the current source.

Assuming the battery has a voltage capacity the coil. vThe of six volts, should the indicator be moved to the upper end of the dial slot by the magnetic force generated by the coil it will indicate that the battery' is fully charged and in good condition. Should the indicator register between the indices 2 and 4, indicative of 3 or` 4 volts, respectively, and register with the indice water rechargenit will indicate that Athe water in the battery is low and thatv the vno battery is n ot fully charged andrequires-to be recharged. l e,

To illuminate the indicating instrument to facilitate the' reading of the same a lamp L is mounted in a socket in the casing comprising the usual threaded terminal contact shell 35,r mounted in a `socket lmember 36 of` insulator material, a member 37 offresilient conducting material being arranged with the end engaging at the end of the insulator member 36 to constitute the end contact terminal of the socket with which the end contact of the lamp is-adapted to contact. The lamp is connected in an open shunt circuit with the circuit of coil 22 and source of current supply by connecting the socket 32 .as the y.button is movedinward to close lthe :coilVv circuit .through1 the contact mem-l j-f; bers 29 and 30. ;It will be obvious as vthe the current How operating to increase orde- 4o` "if, jbuttongjfisy releasedandthe circuit for vthe coil openedthat*:the lamp circuit will be simultaneously opened. l

As stated the instrument is also adapted to indicate the quantity of liquid in a tank. This is accomplished by connecting a resistance device, externally of the instrument into circuit with the coil-22 and the source of current supply or'battery B, the variable resistance set up by the resistance device in crease the ma etic force generated bythe coil and there y moving the indicator proportionately and relative to the dial and against the permanent directive forceof the magnet 20. rlhe resistance device is mounted in a liquid carrying tank T representative of the gasolene tank of a motor vehicle, connected by a conductor 42 with a contact terminal 43 in the form of a bindin post carried by and insulated from the casing C,

said terminal being connect d through a resilient circuit closer 44, the contact'terminal 29. and the conductor 28 in circuit with the coil. This circuit of the resistance device and coil is normally open and is closed by moving the bowed and free end of the conltact member 44 into Contact with the termi- -pleted through the coil 22, the'conductor 24,

the tank, as indicate casing terminal 25 and conductors 26, the resistance device bein grounded through in a conventional manner at 46. The resistance device comprises a coil 47 wound about a reduced portion of a dielectric carrier 48, said carrier having enlarged portions at opposite ends with the coil arranged intermediate said enlarged ends. The coil is connected lat one terminal with the conductor 42 by a contact terminal 49 in the nature of a binding post secured in the end of the Ydielectric carrier and electricallyV connected to the coil. Permanent magnetsg() arranged in pairs at diametrically opposite sides of the coil carrier,-.there being five pairs shown iin the present instance, are connected in circuit with different sections or portions of the coil 47. These magnets arepivotall orted and electrically connected to t e coil y carriers 51 of conducting material passed through the dielectric carrier in substantially equidistant s aced relation, the magnets being pivotal y connected to opposite ends of said carriers, as at 52. The coil and magnets are enclosed -in a tubular member or housing 53 of non-magnetizable material, such as brass, the diameter of said tube being such as to have a tight fit with thc enlarged ends of the dielectric member 48. The unit formed by the tube 53 with the coiland magnets and their dielectric carrier is suspended inthe tank T throu h an opening in the top and extends to adjacent the bottom of the tank by means of a headl .54 connected to the end of the tube 53 and engagingin the tank opening and with the tank about said opening. The head has a recess 55 therein exterior of the tank in .which recess is located the contact terminal.A

aSS-

The outer end lof the recess is closed' by a disk 57 engaging an annular enlargement or seat in the outer end' of the' recess wall and removably secured therein.

sup-

of' f Bythis arrangement the magnets 50 will assume a position by gravity in substantially parallel relation to -the dielectric carrier 48 in spaced relation to the coil and tubular housing 53. The coil is grounded through the tubular housing and the tank. Fur'-4v thermore, by the arrangement described the coil and magnets are maintained out of contact withthe liquid in the tank or an air' space in said tank.

The magnets are connected with successive sections of the coil and the circuit is closed through dierent sections of the coil by the magnets and the tubular housing 53. To

cause the magnets to contact with the tubu-v.l

lar member 53 an annular member or sleeve 58 of magnetizable material, which is in the nature of an armature to the magnets, is mounted upon the .tubular member to have kso movement longitudinally of the same. Dift'ercnt portions or sections of the coil through the magnets are connected into and cut out ot' the circuit of the coil 22 and the battery by and in accordance'\\'ith the liquid level in the tank. For this purpose the magnetizable member 58 is carried by a member in the nature of a float adapted to rise and fall with the liquid level in the tank. This member in the present instance comprises an annular block ot' cork 59 in the opening ot' which the .magnetizable member is mounted. As liquid is supplied to` the tank the cork block willrise with the level of the liquid. Assumingthetank is filled with the oat at the top the uppermost pair of lnagnets will be attracted toward and into contact with attraction ot' the armature 58 establishing the circuit with the conductor 42 through the coil terminal 49 cutting the coil out of circuit with said conductor. As the button 45 is pushed inward the circuit with the coil 22 and battery will be closed by the contact members 44 and 29. Simultaneously with the closing of the circuit vthrough the terminals 44 and 29 an extended portion 45 of the button 45 will engage the contact member 37 of the lamp and move said member into contact with member 38 closing the circuit of the lamp L.

The dial at the right hand side of the slot is arranged with the indicia MT meaning empty 1A, l, 3/4 and full, indicative to what capacity. the tank may be filled. If desired this calibration may be in gallons. 1With the float at the top of the tank as the button l5 is pushed inward and the circuit closed there would be nol resistance to the current flow and the c'oil will generate a. magnetic force sufficient to influence the polax-'Zed vane 18 to move the same out of the permanent directive force of the permanent magnet 20 and the free end of the pointer in register with the indice full at the upper end of the dial slot. It will be obvious that as the liquid is Withdrawn from the tank and the float falls with the liquid level that a greater portion of the coil 47 and resistance will be connected into the circuit anda resultant proportionally less magnetic force will be generated by the coil 22 and move the indicator 15 correspondingly relative to the dial.

The instrument is also adapted-to indicate the thermal condition of an apparatus, such for instance' as ythe cooling medium of an internal combustion engine (designated in a general way by E) constituting the motive power to a motor vehicle. The cooling medium usually consists of water carried in a' radiator, (shown in a conventional manner at R) connected in circulation with the en'- gine by pipes 61. A thermo switch lor circuit closer is suitably arranged to beiniluenced or aiected by the temperature of the heat of the cooling medium. This circuit closure may be arranged exterior to the radiator or in an air space usually provided at the filler opening of the ra-diator,` and comprises a pair of members 62, connected at one end with the free ends in spaced relation. These members are made of a material which is expansible at a predeterminedtemperature causing the contact terminals 62 carried by said members to come into contact. One of said members 61 is grounded, as shown in-a conventional manner at 64, as in the material ot' the radiator, while the other is connected by a conductor with` a contactv terminal 66 in the nature ot' a binding post carried by and insulated from the casing,v the binding post being connected to contact terminal 37 ot' the lamp by a conductor 67. The circuit ot the lamp is completed throughconductor 24, terminal 25 and conductor'26 connected to the battery. While the temperature of the cooling medium of the engineis below a predetermined temperature the members 62 ot' the thermo switch will be maintained in spaced relation by their inherent qualities but as the temperature of the cooling medium rises above a predetermined temperature the material ot' the members 62 will be expanded causing the contact terminals 63 to come in cont-act and close the circuit of the lamp causing said lamp to light and signal or give a warning that'the thermal condition of the engine is such ythat the continued operation would mean injury to the same.

It will .be obvlous that varlatlons, modications and changes may be made in the arrangement and construction of parts, and that portions of the invention may be used without others and come within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In an electric indicating system for motor vehicles, a battery, an electric indicating in- A strument connected in a normally open circuit with .the battery andinfluenced by the c'urrent flow from the battery, a lamp carried by the yinstrumentin open' circuit therewith, means carried by the instrument operativeto clos'e the instrument circuit J to effect actuation thereof by the current flow from the battery and indicate the condition thereof and simultaneouslyclose the lam thermostatic switch connecte in open circuit with the lamp and battery operative at a predetermined temperature of the heatdeveloped by the engine to close the lamp circuit for the purposespecilied. l

Signed at New York cit in the county of New York, and State o New "York, this 13th 'day of February, 1924.

-MERION J. HUGGINS.

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